Entertainment Weekly 4.29.17

I know I'm a couple weeks behind...now that I've moved, I've got to get into a new rhythm! I no longer have nearly as much time to kill on the commute, nor do I have enforced coffee shop time, ha. I'm trying to figure it out, though!

Reading: 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. It's super weird, but really engaging-I am very very into dystopian novels and always have been, though sometimes these days they are a little too real. In fact, I really want to be reading it right now...

Listening: I finally listened to the soundtrack to Dear Evan Hansen. Beautiful and heartbreaking...my favorite! Of course, I now desperately want to see the show...maybe on my next trip to NYC I can somehow score tickets?

Watching: I haven't been watching much lately...no more cable for me! However, I can say I'm very excited to watch the Handmaid's Tale miniseries and to go see the new Guardians of the Galaxy! :)

No more commuter rail!

I live in Boston now! I moved about a week and a half ago, with the help of my dad and friends Michelle and Elly. Dad drove the U-Haul up from Providence while I drove my car, and the ladies met us at my new apartment in Somerville to help with the unloading and carrying of alllll my stuff.

Treats for the movers from Providence Bagel!

I now have a roommate (found on Craigslist, but seems super normal!) in a 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment. I feel so very lucky to have this setup-the toilet paper wars I have heard tell of sound just terrible, ha. I still have a little at my dad's, but am mostly moved in and unpacked. I've hit the wall, though-I did major unpacking Easter weekend, but now can't bring myself to figure out what to do with the rest of my things. Uuuuggghhh. Downsize? Probably, but I am really bad at that. I'll have to find a way soon-I don't want to force my roommate to live with a mess, no matter how small!

The view from my balcony

So far, so good on the location front. I like Somerville a lot and had originally wanted to live in this area anyway, so I felt very lucky when I found this place. It's got a lot of good food, though I've been trying to stick to my good meal planning, and an excellent brewery just down the street! Watch out, Winter Hill Brewing-I might be moving in! ;)

Naturally Michelle and I needed a (delicious) beer after moving

I am just so happy to have cut my commute essentially in half, and to be able to really build a full life here in Boston-and just in time for summer! Send any and all recommendations my way, please!

xoxoxo
Emma

Eat Local: Celestial Cafe

I came across an Instagram post featuring Celestial Cafe and saved it for a day when I might have more time...most nights I get home just in time to have a cup of tea (or glass of wine) before bed. Dad and I made the "trip" to go to dinner there and it was absolutely worth it! I love their focus on supporting local farms and therefore incorporating seasonal ingredients.

Dad started with the citrus pesto calamari, while I had the dish which inspired the trip, the sweet potato wonton. Oh my were they delicious!

The seasonal menu was so appealing that even Dad opted for a vegetarian main, the RI mushroom, kale, and onion risotto. I had a dish with similar ingredients, the gnocchi veggie aglio e olio, but an entirely different presentation. Both were delicious and satisfying-I so appreciate it when restaurants serve a reasonable portion! I do enjoy my leftovers, but many things just do not keep as well and I hate to waste food, especially when it's this delicious.

As always, I am very much looking forward to going back! There are a number of dishes I just can't wait to try...plus, we were too full for dessert and that is not ok! :)

xoxoxo
Emma

Entertainment Weekly 4.8.17

Three weeks in a row whaaat? To be fair, there's a good chance this won't be happening next week...I'm finally moving to Boston! Dreading the move part, excited about the living in Somerville part...more to come for sure!

Reading: I'm cheating and posting about what I'm excited to start reading: The Mother of All Things by Rebecca Solnit. I loved Men Explain Things to Me, so when I came across this follow up I had to purchase it immediately.

Listening: I gave in and started listening to Pod Save America. I get rather overwhelmed with the news and absolutely hate watching it, though I will watch shows like Last Week Tonight and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. This podcast is produced by four former Obama aides who do a great job of breaking down what is actually happening.

Watching: I finally saw Get Out! I have been meaning to forever-despite absolutely never watching horror movies. It's really more of a social commentary playing on horror movie tropes-and there are already numerous reviews and reflections on it better than I could write. Suffice to say, you should see it, read articles like this one about it, and listen to the interviews with Jordan Peele. Absolute brilliance.

Now I have got to get outside and enjoy this beautiful day...it finally feels like spring!

xoxoxo
Emma

Reading in D.C.

One of my favorite things to do when visiting any city is to hit up the local bookstore(s). D.C. certainly has no shortage-I managed to visit three and definitely have many more I need to make it to!

Unsurprisingly, many of these bookstores have a political bent. The store that is connected the restaurant/cafe Busboys and Poets makes that very clear with the name Politics and Prose. I couldn't resist getting two books for myself in addition to a gift for my dad. Mine naturally revolve around feminism-Rebecca Solnit's follow up to Men Explain Things to Me, the Mother of All Questions, and a discussion on the rise of the single woman, Rebecca Traister's All the Single Ladies. It's always reassuring to read work by and about women with similar attitudes to mine regarding marriage and children. 

Hannah is lucky enough to have an adorable used bookstore, Idle Time Books, around the corner from her apartment-and they're hiring! If I lived there, I would have applied in a heartbeat. Their cookbook and food writing section is fantastic, though I did manage to limit myself to purchasing only one book. 

On my last morning in D.C. I went to breakfast at the Potter's House, another combination coffee shop and bookstore. They are very social justice oriented, with a pay-what-you-can soup of the day and an atmosphere welcoming to those who might not have anywhere else to wait out a rainstorm. I missed out on the vegan bacon and sausage, as Monday is their produce delivery day and they make it all in-house, but the granola with Greek yogurt and latte were an excellent lighter breakfast. I could have happily purchased every book in the store, but had to hold myself back due to limited space in my "personal item" and knowing I was already very weighed down! I know I'll be returning when I visit Hannah next.

Any bookstore recommendations for my next visit?

xoxoxo

Emma

Eating Elsewhere: Washington D.C.

As always, a significant part of my trip revolved around eating and drinking delicious things with my friends.

On Friday night, Hanna, Matt, and I went to Bar Charley (which in my mind I kept calling Charley's-you can take the girl out of Ann Arbor, but you can't take the Ann Arbor out of the girl!) for fancy drinks and small plates. The cheese board and brussels sprouts were amazing-but unless you're obsessed with olives, don't order them too! They do in fact come with the cheese board-a fact we were not clear on when ordering, ha.

Hannah and I went to breakfast on Saturday at The Diner...delicious food, not so delicious service. This can certainly be attributed in part to some extremely pushy customers-we debated enacting the karma ourselves but decided the universe could take care of it. I've definitely been missing Southern food and the biscuit it came with hit the spot.

After seeing the cherry blossoms-and every tourist in D.C.-we were in serious need of refreshment. The boozy milkshakes at Ted's Bulletin were simply perfection. I want to try every flavor! And the soft pretzels with pub cheese were an excellent accompaniment.

Sunday's brunch at the Fainting Goat definitely blew Saturday's out of the water for both food and service, though maybe that's the unlimited Bloody Marys talking. Hannah described it as an Emma-type place, meaning artful presentation, attractive decor, and a nice selection of brunch cocktails. It might not have been the most appealing to Max, her boyfriend, but he was very accommodating. I loved the goat cheese skillet dip and avocado toast (basic bitch alert!), and definitely appreciated the bartender allowing us to retain our seats at the bar-and continuing to supply our Bloody Mary and mimosa refills-past the two hour limit.

We did have to get some coffee after that-and a peanut butter chocolate cookie for brunch dessert-at the Wydown.

D.C. is also home to some great chains-Cava please come to Boston ASAP! I loved getting to go to Le Pain Quotidien again (and with great company in Jen, a friend from a cappella in Ann Arbor). In conclusion-I need to return immediately!

xoxoxo
Emma

Entertainment Weekly 4.1.17

You'd think with all the traveling I've been doing I would have a lot more to contribute to this-but somehow no. I think my addiction to catching up on Mad Men and Grey's Anatomy has put a serious damper on it...oops!

Reading: more cookbooks, as always! My lovely friend Georgina gave me a copy of A Lebanese Feast after I admired it at her house during a small dinner party. It is all vegetarian (and a lot of vegan) Lebanese recipes. Not only do the recipes look delicious, but the stories behind them are lovely as well. Stay tuned to see what I make from it!

Listening: the soundtrack to Newsies. I couldn't tell you why I've suddenly been in the mood for it, but I'd forgotten how great it is! I think as I've been running more outside I've been in search of (largely) upbeat musicals-they hold my attention while the beat keeps me amped up.

Watching: Like I said, I've been making my way through Mad Men-Netflix allows it to be downloaded, so it's a frequent commute companion. I had started it long ago when it was first on the air and stopped for some reason, so began from season one. What I wouldn't give to have been the stylist on that show...

Happy weekend! And to all my fellow Northeast residents: stay warm out there! Spring will be here any moment, I swear...

xoxoxo
Emma